How Do I Avoid Blurry Photos?

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This holiday weekend, you may be traveling to see family, taking
a scenic day trip or going to the neighbor's BBQ.

All are good photo opportunities — whether with a "real" camera
or a cellphone. Here are some tips to make the pictures better.
Nothing too tricky: They assume you use the camera's auto setting
or make minor adjustments. [ 6
Tips to Use Instagram Like a Pro ]

How do I make sure photos are in focus?

Often, something is in focus, but not the thing you wanted. Many
modern point-and-shoot cameras and some cellphones have a
face-detection mode that you can select to recognize multiple
faces and optimize the focus (as well as exposure and color) for
them.

[Credit: Apple]

If you don't have this mode, or you want to focus on something
else, adjust the focus point to be more precise. Newer iPhones
make this easy: Simply point on the screen to the part you want
to be sharp. On other cameras, you can often change the default —
which makes a compromise so that everything is sort of sharp —
and instead chose a smaller focus point or area. To do this, you
may have to take the camera out of auto mode and chose program
mode, typically labeled "P" on the selector. [ Expect
to See Photo-Sharing in Ever-More Apps ]

You may still get a blurry picture if you are in low light
because the camera has to keep the shutter open for a relatively
long time. The trick here is to minimize movement. If you are
buying a new point-and-shoot, get one with optical image
stabilizations (OIS), which moves either the lens or the image
sensor to compensate for jitters.

[Credit: Panasonic]

With or without OIS, try holding the camera steadier. Make sure
you have firm footing, and keep your arms close to your body when
you shoot. If you can, hold the camera against something such as
a pole or a tabletop. [ What
Makes a High-Quality Camera? ]